Swing stage scaffold



y 26, 1953 ALLENBAUGH Q 2,639,951

SWING STAGE SCAFFOLD Filed July 1, 1949 INVEN TOR. Ralph fillenba ugh Patented May 26, 1953 SWING STAGE SCAFFOLD Ralph Allenbaugh, Mansfield, Ohio, assignor of one-half to Wilberd F. Feigenbaum, Mansfield,

Ohio

Application July 1, 1949, Serial No. 102,487

Claims. (Cl. 304-15) This invention relates generally to swing stage scaffolds such as are used to support workmen and material adjacent the wall'of a building while painting or otherwise working thereon.

scaffolds of this type generally comprise a pair of spaced stirrups which are suspended from elevated supports by block and tackle mechanisms, there being a separate block and tackle for each stirrup. A swing stage plank which supports the workmen and the material is supported by and extends between the stirrups. The stirrups are raised and lowered independently of each other by the block and tackle mechanisms, as it is desired to change the position of the scaffold with respect to a wall. During raising and lowering the plank is frequently disposed at a considerable angle to the horizontal for it is often necessary to raise or lower one stirrup in advance of the other in order to have the scaffold clear some projection or other object. In order to keep the plank from sliding out of the stirrups when the stirrups are disposed at different; heights some type of fastening means is generally provided to secure the plank to the stirrups. The stirrups should also be provided with wall-engaging means in order to maintain the plank a fixed distance from the wall.

This invention is specifically directed to the construction of the stirrups and to the clamping means for securing the plank to the stirrups.

The principal object of the invention is to provide an improved swing stage stirrup having simple and efficient means for clamping a swing stage plank thereto. v

Another object of the invention is to provide a swing stage stirrup having improved wall-engaging means which maintains the scaffold a fixed distance from a wall and which readily slides along a wall as the scaffold is being raised and lowered.

Another object of the invention is to provide a swing stage stirrup having the above characteristics which can be easily and inexpensively manufactured.

Other and more limited objects of the invention will be apparent from the following specification and the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a swing-stage scafiold, showing my improved stirrup and plank clamping means;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3, but showing the plank disposed at a considerable angle tothe horizontal.

Referring now to the drawings by reference characters, the numeral I indicates generally a swing stage stirrup which is suspended by a block and tackle 2 along a wall 3. One end of a swing stage plank 4 is supported by the stirrup l. The plank 4 is clamped to the stirrup I by a clamping device generally indicated by the numeral 5.

The stirrup I is shown as being made from' round bar stock and comprises a bottom horizontal section 6, a front vertical section l, a rear vertical section 8 and a top section 9. The top section 9 has an eye 10 formed therein into which the hook ll of the block and tackle 2 is inserted. A loop I2, in which a. back bar or guard rail I3 is adapted to be removably supported, is secured above the top section 9 in substantial alignment with the front vertical section I by legs [4. The bottom 6 of the stirrup is connected to the rear vertical section 8 by a rearwardly extending semi-circular section 15.

In the use the section [5 engages the wall 3 and maintains the rear edge l6 of the plank 4 a fixed distance from the wall 3 in order to provide a space between the plank 4 and the Wall 3 so that a workman sitting on the plank 4, while painting or otherwise working on the wall 3, may let his legs hang down from the plank 4 along the wall 3. The section It will ride along the wall 3 as the scaffold is being raised or lowered, and due to its curved shape it will not engage behind projections or in recesses on or in the wall 3.

The plank 4 is supported by the horizontal section 6 and is clamped thereto by the clamping device5. The clamping device 5 comprises a pair of spaced eye-bolts 20 and a bar 2|. The eyebolts 20 are mounted for swinging movement upon the horizontal section 6 between fixed pairs of collars 22. A tubular sleeve 23 is rotatably mounted upon the section 6 between the pairs of collars 22. The eye-bolts 20 extend up through apertures 24 in the bar 2| and have hand-nuts 2 5 screwed therein adjacent the upper ends thereof. A heavy coiled compression spring 23 is mounted upon each eye-bolt 20 between the handnuts 25 and the bar 2 l. The plank 4 is supported by the horizontal section -6 upon the sleeve 23 beneath the bar 2!. After the plank 4 has been inserted in place upon the sleeve 23 the hand-nuts 25 are screwed downwardly upon the eye-bolts 20, which compresses the springs 2c and holds the bar 2| tightly against the plank 4, thus securely clamping the plank 4 in place in the stirrup. A spring 21, which has the lower end thereof secured in an eye 28 carried by the bar and the upper end thereof secured to the top section 9 at 29, is provided to raise the bar 2| from the plank 4 as the nuts 25 are moved upwardly on the bolts 2|] to release the plank. The spring 2'! always tends to hold the bar 2| in its uppermost position and the bolts 20 in a vertical position which greatly facilitates the insertion of the plankinto the stirrup and its removal there from. With this construction, as isolearlgshown in Fig. 5, the angle of the plank withrespect to the horizontal can be changed as desired without afiecting the clamping of the plank to the stirrup, and the plank 4 and the entireclamping; mechanism 5 will rock as a unit about the axis of the horizontal section 6 as the angle of the plank is changed.

If desired. the sleeve 23 and the springs 26 may be omitted. The plank 4 will then restdirectly upon the section 6 and the nuts 25 will bear directly against the bar 2|, but the action of" the clamping mechanism will remain the same. The springs 26 are especially adapted for use in con. nection' with twoplanks of; narrower width which are placed side by side in a stirrup. When two planks are used they are not always the same thickness, in which case the'spring 26: will main-- tain the bar 2| tightly against both planks even. though; they may shift slightly in the stirrup.

From the foregoing it will be apparent to those skilled in this art that I have provided a Verysim-r ple and. effective mechanism for accomplishing the objects'of my invention.

It is tobe understood that Iam not restricted to the; specific construction shown and described as various modifications can be made thereto within; the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1 A swing stage stirrup. comprising a bottom section adap ed to; support a plank, a side sec? tion extending upwardly from each end of said bottomsection, means by which the upper ends of said side sections are secured to a suspending mechanism, and clamp-ing means for securing a plank to. saidbottom, section; said.- clam-ping means comprising a pair of spaced bolts-mount;- ed for swinging movement about the-axis of said. bottom section, a clamping bar having a; pairof spaced apertures through which said bolts e X'-- tend, a clamping nut on each of said bolts 01 erative to hold said clamping bar; in clamping engagement with a plank resting on said bot;-

tom section, said clamping bar being; mounted,

independently of said side sections. for rocking movementabout the ais ofsaid bottom section.

2; A swing stage stirrup comprisinga bottom section adapted to support. a plank, a side section extending upwardly from each end of said bot om sec ion, means; by which the upper end of'said: side sections are'secured to a, suspending; mechan sm; an clampin means for in a plank to said bottom section; said clamping;

means. comprisin a: p r of. spac d: l smoun ed; for Swinging movement about, the axis of said bottom section, a clamping bar having a pair; of spaced apertures throughv which said bolts extend, a. clamping nut on each of said bolts 013,- erative to, hold said clamping bar in clamping engagement. with a plank resting on said bot-- tom, section, and spring means secured to said clamping bar between said spaced apertures. and normally urging said bar outwardly on said bolts against said nuts, said clamping bar being. mounted independently of saidside sections for; rocking movement about the axis of saidl bot-- tom; section.

3.. A swing stage stirrup comprising a, bottom section adapted to support a plank, aside. sec tion; extending upwardly from. each. end of said. bottom. section, means. by which the: upper ends of; said side sections are: secured toa suspend ing, mechanism, and. clamping meansv for scour-- 38 a. p e-13in to, said bottom section; said clamp-- ingmeans comprising: a pair of s a b u fit of which has an we through which said bottom section extends mounted for swinging movement about the axis of said bottom section, a sleeve upon which a plank is adapted to rest rotatably mounted on said bottom section between said bolts, a clamping bar having a pair of spaced aperturesthrough which said bolts extend, a clamping nut on each of said bolts operative to hold said clamping bar in clamping engagement with aqplank resting on said sleeve, said clamping bar being mounted independently of said side-sections for rocking movement about the axis of said bottom section.

4'. A swing'stagestirrup comprising a bottom section adaptedto. support a. plank, a side-section extending upward-lyfrom each; end of said bottom section, means-by which. the; upperends or said side-sections are, secured toa suspending mechanism, andclamping; means for securing a; plank to.=saidbottom section; said clampingmeanscomprising a3 patr ot-spaced bolts each of which has an eye through which said bottom section extends" mounted for swinging movement about the axis of said bottomsection, a sleeve upon which a plank is, adapted to, rest rotatably mounted on said bottom sectionbetween said. bolts, a clamping bar having; a pair of spaced apertures through which said bolts extend; a clamping nut on each of said bolts operative to: holdsaid clamping bar in: clamping engagement with a plank resting on. said, sleeve, and a coiled compression spring mounted on each of said bolts between the said nut thereon andsaid bar, said; clamping bar being mounted independently of said side sections for rocking movement about the axisof saidbottom section.

5. A swing stage stirrupcomprising a. bottom section adaptedyto support. a, plank, a, side-section extending. upwardly from each. end of said bottom. section, means by,v which. the upper ends of said side sections are secured toa suspending, mechanism, and clampingmeansfor securing a plankto. said bottom. section; said clamping means comprising a pair of spacedbolt's. each, of which has an eye through which said'b'ottom sectionextends mounted for swinging movement about the-axis oi said bottom section, a sleeve upon which aplank. is adapted to rest rotatablymounted, onsaifil bottom section between said bolts, a clamping bar having a pair or'spacedjapertures through which. said bolts extend; a clamping nutoneach oi'said; bolts" operative to hard saidclamping' bar in. clamping engagement with a plank. resting on said sleeve and a coiled compression spring mounted on each or said; bolts between theisaid nut thereon and said" bar and spring means secured to said" clamping bar between said spaced apertures and normally urging said bar outwardly on' said bolts int'o' engagement'with said coiled springs; said" clamping bar being mounted independentlyof' said side sections for rocking movement about the axis of said "bottom section;

References.- Citedtin the fileyoii this patent-- UNITED SFIlArTES: PA'I ENTS.

Number Name Date 982,083 MoGha-n -l Jan. 1-7, 1911 932,663 Firus Jan; 29; 1-911 1384,0341 Roberts: Jan, 13,1914 1:,t2!7;445 Johnston: Feb. 9; L915 1,328,500 Donaldson Jan. 20, 1920: 2,193,950: Deck". -r Apr. 30, 1940 2,326,983! Sway-"uni. Aug, 17; 194$ 

